Real Civilian?? HELP!

B

BarrelTwist

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Apr 2, 2009
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I just got a civilian from a friend. Here are some details:

Full size civilian shaped blade.
Fully Serrated.
Markings: Spyderco/G-2 stainless on one side. other: Seki-City/ Japan
Metal Handles no liners.
Non-clip side has rubberish insert with "volcano" texture similar to E4.
Handles are a dark silver.
Clp is mounted tip down.
Metal clip has rubber insert with volcano texture.
Clip says: "U.S. Pat. 347665 Other Pat. Pend."
It was given to me in a spyderco leather case which looks quite old.

Anybody got any ideas of date made and value now?

Ps. Not new to knives ;)


cicy2.jpg


civi.jpg


civy.jpg


Holy crap! Those were taken with my cell phone and they turned out much better than my real camera!! hhaha
 
Im interested too, Ive never seen one with that clip before. Im no spyderco expert but I wonder if someone tried it on and it fit!
 
My connection is slow right now and I can't see the images, but from the description, it sounds legitimate. I've seen pictures of the type of Civilian that you're describing. Unfortunately, I don't know how to calculate the value on that.
 
That's a real Civi alright. I don't have any info on it though.
I'm sure The Deacon knows. He should be here shortly to chime in.
 
Looks legit to me. It's a Tufram coated aluminum Civilian, which was the second generation of the Civilian. First generation was bare aluminum with the same Kraton inserts on the handle and clip. Handle looks to be pristine, so assuming the tip is intact, a serrated one with its pouch should fetch $175~$200.

Also came in plain edge...

al_civilian_open.jpg

​
Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
Wow you guys rock!! Thanks for everyone's help. And thank you "The Deacon". Very unique knife! Possible to get an approximate time frame of production?
 
G-2 steel mark was used from around 1992 to sometime in 1994. As far as I know, the Tufram coating didn't show up on anything until 1993, so my guess would be 93 or 94.
 
The Civilian is probably the most difficult Spyderco to research. Up until a few years back, Spyderco did not even list them in dealer catalogs. I'd say Yab is correct about 1993 being the earliest for Tufram, not sure if/when the transition from marking GIN-1 as G2 to marking it "correctly" as GIN-1 occurred. I know that change occurred later with some models, and not at all with others. The four Tufram Civilians that I've owned, all were marked G2 but, while I don't recall seeing any marked GIN-1, that doesn't mean there weren't any. So the era of the G2 marked ones could have ended as early as 1994, or extended up until 1997-98 when ATS-55 became Spyderco's steel of choice for Seki built knives.

Paul
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My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
I had to rummage around amongst my Civilians, but was able to dig-up a couple with blades marked GIN-1...a Tuffram serrated and a first ed. G-10 minus liner.
GIN1Civvies1.jpg

GIN1Civvies8a.jpg

The tag on pouch for Tuffram Civvie is dated 11/96.
 
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That's interesting, I just picked up a G-2 Tuffram Civilian myself.... but I had some idea of its providence. Its a sweet knife.

Anyone know anything about the G-2 steel? I assume its a proprietary Spyderco steel.

Did they only use it on the Civi or was it used on other early models?

Is it any good?
 
Buffalohump said:
That's interesting, I just picked up a G-2 Tuffram Civilian myself.... but I had some idea of its providence. Its a sweet knife.

Anyone know anything about the G-2 steel? I assume its a proprietary Spyderco steel.

Did they only use it on the Civi or was it used on other early models?

Is it any good?
Click to expand...

No, it wasn't Spyderco proprietary. When they stared marking the steel type (which is Gingami-1) the GIN-1 mark was being used for another company, so Sal used G-2. Later they were allowed to use the GIN-1 mark. Early knives were not steel marked, but odds are good that they are GIN-1/G-2. It was and is a good enough steel for Spyderco to build their reputation on. ;)
 
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